Indian cross-border incursion into Balakot, KP was the highlight of the month

Islamabad (PR) – In all, 21 terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan in February 2019, compared to 26 in the month before. These attacks claimed 22 lives and wounded 47 others. Among those 22 killed in terrorist attacks in February were 14 security officials (7 FC men, 6 policemen and one army soldier) and 8 civilians. Those injured included 13 security personnel and 34 civilians. PIPS monthly security report for February 2019 revealed these statistics.

However, the report noted, the main highlight of the month was Indian cross-border incursion into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, through Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It was followed by skirmishes between air forces of the two countries along the Line of Control, the next day, in which Pakistan downed two Indian fighter jets and arrested one Indian pilot, who was later freed as a gesture of peace. The incidents also gave an impetus to border violations by Indian border security force.

As far as security landscape of Pakistan is concerned, in February again terrorists mainly hit Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Nine (9) terrorist attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during February 2019, compared to 11 in the month before. These attacks claimed 7 lives and injured 13 others.

As in KP, 9 terrorist attacks took place in Balochistan also, which killed 9 people – as compared to 25 killed in such attacks in previous month – and injured 29 others. While two reported attacks claimed 4 lives in Sindh, one attack killed two persons in Punjab.

All 12 reported cross-border attacks in February were concentrated along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary with India, claiming 6 lives and wounding 22 others.

Three incidents of ethnic/political violence took place in Karachi, causing deaths of 4 political workers, mainly associated with factions of MQM.

Security forces launched 2 anti-militant operational strikes that killed 7 suspected militants, all in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Two of the most wanted Daesh, or ISIS, terrorists were also killed in a police encounter in Shikarpur in Sindh.

In all, 39 incidents of violence of different types took place in Pakistan that claimed the lives of 41 people and injured 70 others.

Pak Institute for Peace Studies Pvt Ltd. (PIPS) is a research and advocacy think-tank. An initiative of leading Pakistani scholars, researchers and journalists, PIPS conducts wide-ranging research and analysis of political, social and religious conflicts that have a direct bearing on both national and international...